SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 24 (AP) -- Ticha Penicheiro scored 19 points and had six assists, helping the Sacramento Monarchs defeat the Los Angeles Sparks 67-59 on Tuesday night.

Not known for her scoring, Penicheiro poured in 11 points and made several clutch baskets in the fourth quarter as the Monarchs clung to a slim lead and snapped a three-game losing streak.

Nicole Powell scored 12 points, and Yolanda Griffith added 11 for the Monarchs, who had dropped two straight to the struggling Sparks. Sacramento remained in second place in the tight Western Conference standings.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Marta Fernandez added 10 points for Los Angeles, which has dropped eight of nine since beating Sacramento on June 27.

After trailing for most of the game, McWilliams-Franklin made two free throws to pull the Sparks even. But Penicheiro went end to end for a layup and was fouled on the play. She converted the ensuing free throw and gave Sacramento a 57-54 lead with 4:19 remaining.

Penicheiro made a driving left-handed layup to provide the Monarchs with another three-point cushion with just over a minute left, then found Adrian Williams for an easy basket on the next possession that made it 65-59.

Fernandez scored a career-high 26 points against the Monarchs in the previous game and was a focus of the Sacramento defense in the rematch. She was scoreless until making a 3-pointer late in the third quarter.

Although their offense had trouble in the opening half, there was nothing wrong with the Monarchs' defense. The Sparks made only eight of 32 shots and trailed 30-25 at halftime.